Are You A CorrectCraft Fan? Guess What?
Brochure – courtesy Correctcraftfan.com
If your a fan of very cool vintage Correct Crafts, there is a fantastic site on the interneter for that. Its called. Get this. CorrectCraftFan.com. Its like it was meant for just you. have no idea what a CorrectCraft even is? Well… its a very very cool brand of boats that started back in the late 40’s and now is under the brand Ski Nautique. but we are here just to let you know more by clicking on the site and diving in. CorrectCraft is one of the emerging Fiberglass brands that is becoming very collectable.
This is a fun and fantastic plastic group of folks. So you’re not alone in your correct craft lust.
Why? A focused purpose, fantastic bold design and fun by the boat load. If you missed them all at the huge Lake Dora event a couple years ago, you missed a colorful sampling of how fun this brand can be.
Did we mention that there is a forum on CorrectCraftFan.com and lots of fun photos from owners.
We here at Woody Boater are huge fans of the mid 60’s to mid 70’s years. They came in all your most hated mid century colors and where way over powered for there size. Whats there not to love about that. A 17 ft Avocado boat with a souped up 351. Hell ya!
Factory Photo
And you could find them in that mushy yellow, bright Orange, strange 70’s blue that goes with the Yellow and Orange.
A couple years back the CorrectCraft gang came in full force to lake Dora and brightened up the week!
There are even more extreme models out there still in Garages and back yards that can be scooped up and souped up.
Insane rare Correct Craft Separator being restored and collected by Katz’s Marina. This is a personal owned boat by Seth.
That little sucker has this monster in it.
So click around, and if you are lucky enough to see one at a show, ask for a ride. You may just end up towing one home to your lonely Avocado fridge still running in your garage.
All the brochures are on the CorrectCraftFan website
I agree that was a GREAT Dora event! Those Correct Craft guys know how to party!
I’ve been a fan of CorrectCraftFan for quite awhile. My dad had this 1967 Mustang model for several years when I was a young adult. Lots of great times with that boat!
I think the Mustang and Separator are also my favorites. I love the separator the most since it looks so concept boat like.
yes. That Mt Dora event when ALL the Correct Crafts showed up was a VERY Colorful show. And they over took the land display area. I went back there several times to look them over, and found something new and interesting each time.
That is what makes the trip to this show worth the time and expense.
Can’t wait to see what brand will be the feature next March.
CorrectCraft, along with Donzi and a few other marques truly are plastic worth collecting. Unlike some of the odd-ball design exercise “ugly duckling” boats, these boats actually performed well and added a few chapters in the history book of recreational boating… besides that, they are still around today!
The lapstrake-style MFGs are also good fiberglass boats. Came in 13-19 footers, but all looked the same. Lots were sold around the Grest Lakes as a lower maintenance alternative to to the ever popular Lyman. Lots are still around, but getung harder to find good ones.
I sold our 1985 Ski Nautique two years ago after using it for over 10 years and 300+ hours to tow our daughters and their friends at our cottage. It was a great boat and the 351 had so much low end torque that you had to be careful with the throttle when bringing up a skier. I miss that boat, but it is now owned by a family in Ohio with young kids and being used to teach them the fun of water sports. I was glad to see it get another life doing what it was meant to do!
When I sold my ’56 Sea Skiff I came across a ’68 Correct Craft Barracuda SS. It was just a hull at the time. I have found many parts through the CorrectCraftFan site as well as a few crucial exhaust parts through WoodyBoater’s classifieds.
Am I a Correct Craft Fan??!! You betcha! 1959 Atom Skier. These guys were the work horses at the Cypress Gardens Ski shows. We named the Atom Skier “Ski-Daddler” Cuz it skidaddles! Four cylinder flathead Gray Marine moves this 14 and a half footer very nicely. The Correct Craft Fan guys and gals are a great bunch of people who gather every year at Green Lake in Wisconsin. Thanks for featuring this fun and classic speedboat.
Always learning new things on Woody Boater. Thanks for all your great work!
Founded in 1925 Correct Craft is the oldest family owned boat manufacturer in the US.
They were even used in Kodak advertising. Wish I knew where this was shot.
Tahoe
Hi Tritone,
Did you know my father, Lock, Jr.?
Sincerely,
Lock Richards III
Both those boats were my Dad’s. The one on the left, a 1958 18′ foot “Collegian” named “Locks Liz” (named after my mom, Elizabeth Jean Richards), and the one on the right a 1957 20′ “Debonnaire”, named after my sister (my dad’s first child – his Lassie) Kim Susanne Richards. My dad, mom and sister are in the forwardmost seat in Locks Liz. My dad was Lock Richards Jr. and he had four Correct Crafts, all bought new for his business called Locks Landing, which he operated in the 50s and 60s at four different locations on Lake Tahoe in California (Chambers, Camp Richardson, Globins, and Bijou). The photo was taken by Kodak, from the top of a ladder at the end of the Camp Richardson pier, to promote their new “color film”! It became a very popular “post card” sold in all the local stores in the 60s and 70s. My dad gave speedboat rides to Emerald Bay, taught hundreds of people to water ski, and put on a weekly waterski show for the Camp Rich beachgoers every Friday evening in the summer. He pretended to be a drunk and stumbled out on the pier where he proceeded to pull a plank off the pier, nail his tennis shoe to it, and then ski away on it! I inherited the Locks Lassie (the boat on the right), which I learned to waterski behind in 1965 when I was 5. With the help of Bob Robertson of Nevada City, CA, I just this year restored the Lassie after about 15 years of storage in my garage. She was back on Lake Tahoe, her home, this summer. I also recently joined the ACBS and we took her on the Delta Cruise which was a blast! She’s powered by a 312 y block 215 hp Dearborn Interceptor. Feel free to contact me with questions. I would also love to find the current whereabouts of my dad’s other three Correct Craftts – Locks Liz, Locks Lady, and Locks Loki. Thanks!!
Hi Lock,
What a great story! Spent plenty at Lake Tahoe, what a wonderful place.
I’m in the process of putting together our 2017 printed calendar and would love it if you would submit the photo of Locks Lassie for consideration!
http://www.correctcraftfan.com/calendar/
Thank you,
Keith
Hi Keith,
I’m just now seeing your reply – sorry not to get back to you until now. I would love to provide you the photo of Locks Lassie for consideration in your calendar – that would be awesome! Please let me know what you need (format, etc.) via email. You can reach me at lock.richards@gmail.com
Both those boats were my Dad’s. The one on the left, a 1958 18′ foot “Collegian” named “Locks Liz” (named after my mom, Elizabeth Jean Richards), and the one on the right a 1957 20′ “Debonnaire”, named after my sister (my dad’s first child – his Lassie) Kim Susanne Richards. My dad, mom and sister are in the forwardmost seat in Locks Liz. My dad was Lock Richards Jr. and he had four Correct Crafts, all bought new for his business called Locks Landing, which he operated in the 50s and 60s at four different locations on Lake Tahoe in California (Chambers, Camp Richardson, Globins, and Bijou). The photo was taken by Kodak, from the top of a ladder at the end of the Camp Richardson pier, to promote their new “color film”! It became a very popular “post card” sold in all the local stores in the 60s and 70s. My dad gave speedboat rides to Emerald Bay, taught hundreds of people to water ski, and put on a weekly waterski show for the Camp Rich beachgoers every Friday evening in the summer. He pretended to be a drunk and stumbled out on the pier where he proceeded to pull a plank off the pier, nail his tennis shoe to it, and then ski away on it! I inherited the Locks Lassie (the boat on the right), which I learned to waterski behind in 1965 when I was 5. With the help of Bob Robertson of Nevada City, CA, I just this year restored the Lassie after about 15 years of storage in my garage. She was back on Lake Tahoe, her home, this summer. I also recently joined the ACBS and we took her on the Delta Cruise which was a blast! She’s powered by a 312 y block 215 hp Dearborn Interceptor. Feel free to contact me with questions. I would also love to find the current whereabouts of my dad’s other three Correct Craftts – Locks Liz, Locks Lady, and Locks Loki. Thanks!!
Lock,
The Debonnaire is a great looking boat as is the Collegian. Those double planked Correct Crafts are really interesting boats, very solidly built.
What models were the other three?
I’ve known this site for a while. Correct craft dates back to 1925. They are great boats. I bought mine from the original owner, the father in law of a lake neighbor I had known for years. It sat in his basement for 14 years awaiting repairs that never happened.
Mine is a 1957 Rocket Skier. It’s 15 1/2 ft has the original 110 hp Graymarine flathead six. It runs like a Swiss watch.
From 1987-89 I did a complete rebuild on this boat, rebuilding each frame from the keel up. Each deck plank is book matched mahogany.It’s been a great boat. It it has varnish, I replaces it.
I put it in the water in March and don’t pull it out until after Thanksgiving. It has never leaked.
Caught a couple of typos.. “IF if has varnish I replaced it.. but you get the idea.. BA
Thanks for the write-up. There is not a better bunch of guys than the CorrectCraftFan group. Here is a photo that really captures the essence. From a CCF gathering on Badin Lake, NC, October 2015 (Photo Credit: Tim Morfoot)
The people of Correct craft fan are AWESOME people and would give you the shirt off there back if needed! Love these of boats. My first restoration was a 63 Classic Correct Craft. my second was a 71 “Promo” SKi Nautique. Next one in line is a 86 Silver Nautique. I’m sure it won’t stop there. The sound and look of these old boats is like no other!! like Muscle cars on water!!
I have been a promo driver for Nautique for 15 years. Finally settled down with my dream boat a 1976/7 Ski Nautique. My father and I, with the help of several friends, brought her back to show boat condition. In addition, we didn’t think she had enough power, so we added another 100 or so! She is our pride and joy!